In order to receive maximum benefit from hearing aids, a professionally trained audiologist is involved in the fitting process which typically involves an average of five direct contact hours during the first year. In many cases, audiologists will provide unlimited service during the warranty period (from one to three years) or beyond, for no additional charge. This follow-up care may be "bundled" into the upfront cost of the hearing aid. In other words, when a hearing aid is dispensed, it is typically part of a package that routinely includes certain required professional services such as verification of the hearing aid fitting including, but not limited to, real ear (or probe tube) measurements and aided sound field testing. This package may also include ear impressions, selecting/ fitting/adjusting/reprogramming the hearing aid, patient and family counseling regarding hearing aid use, maintenance and realistic expectations and follow-up appointments.
Mail order or budget clubs may sell hearing aids at lower prices because they are often placed on the user with minimal or no instructions and/or adjustments. (Their components may be less expensive, too.) The user may be charged for return visits including minor tubing changes and adjustments. In the long run, the patient may pay as much or even more than they would from a full-service audiology practice.
The minimum training required for a dispensing audiologist has been a master's degree, which is now transitioning to a doctoral degree (Au.D.). Mail order discount centers, by contrast, are often staffed by sales people with minimal technical training. Why does it matter? Audiologists know that the most important consideration in hearing aid selection is not the hearing itself; rather, it is the skill and knowledge of the professional dispensing the hearing aid. The audiologist's responsibility is to ensure that a suitable instrument is selected and to provide an understandable explanation of its merits and limitations.
High Tech/Low Volume
Hearing aids are sold in relatively low volume when compared with other electronic devices. For example, approximately 1.7 million hearing aids are sold in the U.S. per year as compared to several million stereos; yet, the amount of time and resources manufacturer's spend on development and research is considerable. One manufacturer reports spending more than twenty million dollars developing a single model.
Return for Credit Policy
"Return for Credit" policies are standard among hearing aid manufacturers and required by state and federal hearing aid guidelines, allowing new hearing aids to be returned within an established evaluation period. The costs associated with these policies are considerable, especially for custom products, and naturally must be absorbed in the overall pricing structure.
Weighing the Costs
Communication is vital to human existence. According to a groundbreaking study published by the National Council on Aging (1999), "Untreated hearing loss has serious emotional and social consequences for older persons." The benefits hearing aid users reported in their lives ranged from improved relationships at home and sense of independence to improved social and sex life. According to the study, the families of hearing-aid users noticed improvements in every dimension the survey measured. An additional "Beyond Fifty" survey conducted by the AARP and Harris Interactive (2003) found that the ability to stay connected to family and friends contributed to quality of life more than overall health. So if wearing hearing aids allows you to resume activities you enjoy, improve relationships with friends and family, retain your independence, etc. the cost becomes a lot more justifiable.
from ADA-Doctors of Audiology / www.audiologist.org
